POOR UNIVERSITY

 

The University bureaucracy is whining about lack of funding, that it might have to cut its bloated budget.  NU laughably pledges that it will continue being “fiscally conservative” while it begs higher appropriations from the Legislature & squeezes more tuition $$ from students.  We suggest cutting the millions spent on Critical Race Theory, Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies, & other diversity & indoctrination courses.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF University Watch Project. 

TOO DANG LAZY

 

Thursday at the Legislature, there was a Revenue Comm. meeting on 3 bills, all offering additional property tax relief.  Only a half dozen groups, including NE Taxpayers for Freedom, spoke in favor of these bills.  1 leftist think tank opposed them.  Taxpaying citizens should have packed that hearing room to support this legislation.  But, alas, it is easier to complain about your property taxes than actively lobby.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our Legislature Watch Project. 

TALE OF TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS

 

OP$ boasts 42% of its students chronically absent, high schoolers the worst.  This statistic adversely affects literacy, social skills, & workforce attainability.  Nevertheless, OPS Supt. Logan finds time to testify against education reform bills in the Legislature that would place OP$ spending on a diet.  Meanwhile, Millard Public Schools is saving taxpayers $1-$2 million on its 2020 bond issue. Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Education Watch Project. 

GREAT BILL

 

Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom opposes state taxpayer funding for gender-altering, because these procedures are cosmetic in nature, not necessary medical ones.  Not cost-effective, because the few receiving such treatment does not warrant taxpayer funding.  Such surgeries cost up to an expensive $50,000.  Would be a bad precedent for taxpayer funding for elective cosmetic surgeries on other parts of the body.  Tell your state senator to vote YES on LB 574.

SORE LOSER

 

OPS Superintendent Logan took time off work to testify against Opportunity Scholarships for poor children trapped in public schools.  She opposes losing tax $$ that public schools actually will NOT lose.  After 5 yrs., Logan is leaving OP$ worse than before she arrived: teachers assaulted & stabbed, anarchy in the schools, academic achievement & test scores in the dumpster.  Thousands of kids optioning out to other districts.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our Education Watch Project. 

HOGS AT THE TROUGH

 

The NE education lobby knows no bounds for greed.  The Gov. Pillen plan offers school districts a Swiss Cheese lid, more state aid, & a $2.5 billion foundation slush fund from which to draw tax $$.  Yet, school district reps from across the state testified in opposition to LB 589, whining that the bill provides too few $$ for teacher salaries & benefits, student population growth, & the unexpected.  Pigs at the trough plundering taxpayers.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our Education Watch Project. 

A BRIGHT IDEA

 

No surprise there are teaching vacancies across NE.  Liberals want to increase already generous teacher pay, but the problem is not salaries.  The problem is mayhem caused by unruly students, e.g., OPS teacher stabbed.  Public schools must expel constantly disruptive students, mandating that parents take responsibility for their offspring.  Liberals whine that expelled students end up in trouble on the streets, but students deserve a reasonable learning environment.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our Education Watch Project.

SHAME, SHAME

 

Image that!  Omaha city officials neglected to inform state senators about streetcar financing before announcing this worthless project.  Senators correctly worry about TIF financing eroding the tax base for local taxing authorities and if city taxpayers will be liable for funding the plan.  NE Taxpayers for Freedom suggests that the streetcar authority itself be financially responsible if the proposed financing model collapses.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF City Watch Project. 

OPS FAILS AGAIN

 

OPS admits that 42% of its students are chronically absent, the problem worse in its high schools.  Such statistics adversely affect literacy, social skills, & the future workforce.  Taxpayers who pay 56% of their property tax $$ to OPS definitely are not getting our money’s worth.  Hopefully, the OPS school board will hire a better superintendent than the one exiting, to end this truancy crisis.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Education Watch Project. 

ONE GREAT PROPOSAL

 

Political praise to State Sen. Steve Erdman for sponsoring a bill to urge the Tax Equalization Review Comm. to speed up its decisions on property valuation challenges, or individuals who appeal will see their valuation returned to its previous dollar amount until the TERC reaches a decision.  Despite what taxing authorities say, the fiscal impact on their tax levies will be minimal.  Email netaxpayers@gmail.com to join our NTF Legislature Watch tax project.